Stop mechanism for rotary textile spindle

ABSTRACT

A rotary textile spindle is stopped by an electromagnetic brake means producing magnetic fields passing through the spindle and raising the brake means to a higher braking position, when energized. The brake means is nonrotatably mounted on the stationary support of the spindle, and is movable in axial direction to and from the braking position. In one embodiment, the spindle carries a freely rotatable driven pulley, and coupling means are provided which couple the pulley to the spindle when the electromagnetic brake means is deenergized and inoperative, and disengage the pulley from the spindle when the electromagnetic brake means is energized and brakes the spindle to a stop.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Gustav Fetzer 2,803,106 8/1957 Lindemann et al. 57/88 Gmgen; 2,972,219 2/1961 Collins 57/88 Gerhard F reytag, Faurndau, both of, 2,975,584 3/ 1961 Maltant et al a. 57/88 Germany 3,364,670 l/1968 Stiepel et al. 57/88 [211 App]. No, 801,993 3,415,050 12/1968 Page 57/88 [22] Filed Feb. 25, 1969 [45] Patented M ay 25 1971 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes [73] Assignee Zinser-Textilmaschinen Gesellschaft Mit Att0mey Mlchael Striker Beschrankter Haftung, Ebersbach, Germany [32] Priority Feb. 29, 1968, Feb. 1,1969 [33] Germany [31] P 17 10 059.3 and P 19 05 063.6

ABSTRACT: A rotary textile spindle is stopped by an elec- 54 STOP MECHANISM FOR ROTARY TEXTILE tromagnetic brake means producing magnetic fields passing SPINDLE through the spindle and raising the brake means to a higher 16 Claims 7 Drawing FigS braking position, when energiaed. The brake means isnon- 52 U S Cl rotatably mounted on the stationary support of the spindle, I .C] d i bl i i l di e ti to and from the braking posi- 'f 7/ 22 tion. In one embodiment, the spindle carries a freely rotatable le 0 TC d ive uney nd CO means are rovided cou 1 P P P P [56] References Cited the pulley to the spindle when the electromagnetic brake means is deenergized and inoperative, and disengage the pul- UNITED STATES PATENTS ley from the spindle when the electromagnetic brake means is 2,666,289 1/1954 Bunch 57/88 energized and brakes the spindle to a stop.

| l 61 I I 1 1 3 2 27 29 i i n I 23 1 i I ll Bi I L. i7 1 1 l g l I 7 l PATENTEUmzsmn SHEET 3 [IF 3 FIG.7-

STOP MECHANISM FOR ROTARY TEXTILE SPINDLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a stop mechanism for a rotary textile spindle which includes electromagnetically operated brake means which are nonrotatable and bring the spindle to a stop when engaging a brake surface on the same.

The term textile spindle is used in the present application for spindles and other rotary elements used in spinning, twisting, and draw twisting machines, and similar apparatus.

Textile spindles of this type carry a tube or bobbin on which a yarn or thread is wound up to form a package.

Electromagnetic brake means for spindles are known, and one construction according to the prior art is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,050 which has a freely rotatable driven pulley which can be coupled with the spindle. An axially movable coupling plate is biassed by a spring to engage the pulley and is controlled by an electromagn et to simultaneously disengage the spindle and to engage a brake surface of the electromagnet so that the spindle is braked and then stopped since the electromagnet is not rotatable.

This construction according to the prior art has disadvantages inasmuch as the airgap between the coupling plate and the electromagnet should not be greater than 0.2 mm. Since the brake lining and coupling lining are worn off, the airgap must be frequently readjusted. Due to the great braking force, the bearing of the spindle is considerably stressed. Due to the very small gap between the electromagnet and the coupling plate, the rotary spindles cannot be exchanged for other spindles on the same spindle rail without careful adjustment. Furthermore, the entire braking torque must be taken up by the coupling plate and transmitted to the spindle. If the airgap is not exactly adjusted, braking of the spindle may result in oscillations of the spindle which may disturb the braking operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, and to provide a textile spindle with a stop mechanism including an electromagnetic brake, and being of simple construction, easily and inexpensively manufactured, and operating reliably to obtain a fast and reliable braking and stopping of the spindle without the transmission of braking forces to the spindle and the bearing thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stop mechanism for a textile spindle which, regardless of unavoidable oscillatory movements of the rotating spindle, brakes the same uniformly without any influence of the oscillation on the braking operation.

Another object of the invention is to combine the electromagnetic brake means with coupling means by which a freely rotatable pulley is coupled with the spindle when the brake means is disengaged, and disengaged from the spindle when the brake means is operative to brake and stop the spindle.

With these objects in view, the stop mechanism of the present invention comprises a brake means including an electromagnet which is movable toward and away from a magnetizable armature portion of the spindle so that upon energization of the electromagnet, the brake means moves toward the armature portion until abutting a brake surface of the spindle, while the brake means returns to its inoperative position, preferably by the action of the force of gravity, when the electromagnet is deenergized.

In accordance with the invention, the brake means and its electromagnetic means move toward the brake surface on the spindle when the electromagnetic means is energized, and abuts the brake surface with a great force. Any rattling noise or irregular braking of the rotary spindle is avoided.

The spindle bearing is less stressed during the braking operation than in known brake stop mechanism according to the prior art.

The brake of the stop mechanism may be a radial or an axial brake, and is preferably constructed as an axial brake in which the brake means moves in axial direction of the spindle between an inoperative position and a braking position, which has the advantage that a single brake means can produce very great brake forces without producing transverse forces stressing the spindle shaft, and without substantially increasing the bearing forces of the spindle shaft acting on the bearing of the spindle. The bearing force is either completely eliminated, or increased only by the weight of the brake means, depending on the position of the brake means above or below its armature on the spindle.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a magnetizable armature portion of the spindle is located vertically directly above the brake means so that the same is raised to a braking position abutting the brake face of the spindle when the electromagnetic means in the brake means is energized. When the electromagnetic means is deenergized, the brake means moves due to the action of the force of gravity downward back to its normal inoperative position.

The invention is particularly advantageously applied to textile spindles which include a rotary spindle, a pulley freely rotatable mounted on the spindle, and coupling means which have a coupling position connecting the pulley with the spindle for rotating the latter, and a disengaged position in which the driven pulley is separated from the rotary spindle so that the same can be braked to a stop. In accordance with the invention, the coupling means -is in the disengaged position when the brake means is in the braking position, and is in the coupling position when the brake means is in the inoperative position due to deenergization of its electromagnetic means.

A stop mechanism according to the invention comprises a support, a textile spindle means mounted on the support for rotation and having a magnetizable portion, and brake means mounted on the support for movement toward and away from the spindle means between an inoperative position, and a braking position abutting the spindle means. The brake means is nonrotatably connected with the support and includes electromagnetic means positioned so that magnetic flux produced by the electromagnetic means flows through the magnetizable portion. As a result, the brake means is magnetically attracted to and pressed against the spindle means in the braking position for braking and stopping the same when the electromagnetic means is energized. When the electromagnetic means is deenergized, the brake means returns to the inoperative position, preferably due to the action of the force of gravity since in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the braking position is higher than the inoperative position.

If the spindle means is of the type having an integral pulley, a lower flange of the pulley is advantageously used as the magnetizable armature portion for the electromagnetic means of the brake means.

If the spindle means includes a rotary spindle, a driven pulley, and coupling means, the brake means is operatively connected with the coupling means for causing movement of the same to the disengaged and engaged positions, respectively, when the brake means moves between the braking and inoperative positions, respectively.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, spring biassed means act on the coupling means for urging the same to the engaged position, and the brake means moves the coupling means to the disengaged position when the electromagnetic means is energized and the brake means moves to the braking position. Upon deenergization of the electromagnetic means, the brake means returns to the inoperative position, and the spring biassed means moves the coupling means to the engaged position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partially in axial section taken along line I-I in FIG. 2, and illustrating a textile spindle provided with a stop mechanism according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line II-Il in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view, partially in axial section, and illustrating a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary axial sectional view illustrating on an enlarged scale a portion of FIG. 3 surrounded by a dash and clot circle;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary axial sectional view illustrating a third embodiment of the invention, the bearing support of the spindle shaft being omitted for the sake of clarity,

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line VIVI in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary axial sectional view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, conventional parts of the illustrated textile spindle arrangements are omitted for the sake of clarity, and only spindle parts cooperating with the stop mechanism of the invention are shown, corresponding parts being indicated by like reference numerals.

Referring first to the embodiment of F IGS. 1 and 2, a textile spindle 2 has a shaft 15 which is mounted in a bearing support 1 for rotation about a vertical axis. The spindle has an integral pulley portion 13 and a flange 12 consisting of a magnetizable material, such as iron. An annular support 4 is secured to the bearing housing I and has a flange 5 secured to the schematically indicated spindle rail 6. The annular wall of support 4 has two diametrically opposite axial guideways 7, and is surrounded by an annular brake means 11 which includes an annular magnetizable member 17 having a U-shaped cross section, and consists of two annular leg portions 19, 20, and a connecting yoke 21. In the annular groove 22 of the annular member 17, an exciting winding 23 is inserted, whose terminals 24 are connected by a switch 25 to a voltage source. Switch 25 is preferably actuated by a foot pedal. An annular brake lining 26, consisting of a nonmagnetic material is mounted in a corresponding annular groove in the top face of the magnetic annular member 17, covering winding 23 and leaving two annular top face portions 27 and 29 of annular member 17 uncovered. Brake lining 26 has a brake face on top which is located above the top face portions 27 and 29, and cooperates with a brake face 17 at the bottom of the magnetizable flange 12.

Threaded guide pins 10 are screwed into the yoke portion 21 of the annular member 17 and have inwardly projecting portions located in the diametrically opposite guideways 7 for guiding the annular brake means ll, 17, 23, 26 for axial movement on support 4, while connecting the annular brake means with support 4 in such a manner that the annular brake means cannot turn relative to support 4 which is fixed to the spindle rail. The magnetizable flange 12 is located directly above the annular top face portions 27 and 29, spaced a small airgap from the same when the annular brake means 11 is in its normal inoperative position resting on flange 5 of support 4 due to its weight. In this inoperative position of brake means 11, the top face of brake lining 26 is also spaced from the brake surface 16 at the bottom of flange 12 by an airgap. Flange l2 and brake means 11 form the stop mechanism 3 by which the spindle 2 can be braked to a stop. The annular brake means 11, and more specifically the annular magnetizable member 17, has sufficient radial play on support 4 so that the brake lining 26 can fully abut the braking surface 16 of flange 12 when brake means 11 is raised to a braking position.

When switch 25 is open, and no current energizes the winding 23, brake means 11 is in the illustrated inoperative posi tion, resting on flange 5 so that a rope or belt passing about pulley 13 rotates the spindle means 2 including shaft 15 in bearing housing I, the upper spindle portion 14 on which the tube or cop is mounted, and the magnetizable flange 12 which forms an armature for the electromagnetic means 23, 27.

When switch 25 is closed, an exciting current flows through winding 23 and produces in the annular magnetizable member 17 a magnetic flux indicated by broken lines which flows in the direction of the arrows through top face portion 29, magnetizable armature portion 12, and into top face portion 27 so that the top face portions 27 and 29 and the annular leg portions 19 and 20 of the annular magnetizable member 17 have opposite polarity. The magnetic force produced by the flux attracts electromagnetic means 17, 23 until brake lining 26 abuts the bottom face 16 of flange 12 in abraking position. Since due to pins .9, brake means 11 cannot turn relative to the fixed support 4, spindle means 2 is braked to a stop. Due to the small gap between the top face portions 27, 29 and the bottom face 16 of the magnetizable armature flange 12, the losses due to stray fields are immaterial.

When switch 25 is opened, the magnetic field is extinguished, and the weight of brake means 11 urges the same downward until the annular member 17 rests on flange 5 of the support. The movement of the brake means 11 between the lower inoperative position and the higher braking position takes place in axial direction due to the guiding of guide pins 9 in the axially extending slots 7 of support 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the textile spindle means 51 has a spindle shaft 52 mounted in a bearing housing 1 for rotation about a vertical axis. Bearing housing 1 is secured to spindle rail 6 and has a bottom flange 70. A tubular support 53 and a protective ring 54 are secured to spindle shaft 52, and tubular support 53 has a tubular wall surrounding the upper portion of bearing housing 1. A cover ring 55 is secured by screws 55a to support 53. Antifriction bearing means mount a pulley 57 on support 53 for free rotation about the axis of the spindle means 51. The spindle means 51 further includes coupling means 61 which has an engaged position coupling pulley 57 with the rotary spindle 52 to 55, and a disengaged position in which the spindle 52 to 55 is not rotated when pulley 57 is driven by a rope or belt, not shown.

Coupling means 61 includes an annular member 74 having a magnetizable flange 74a to which an annular lining 62 is secured. Support 53 has a flange 58 into which bolts 59 are screwed which project into recesses of member 74 and are surrounded by springs 60 abutting the heads of bolts 59, and also coupling member 74 so that the same is urged together with flange 74a and coupling lining 62 to an engaged position in which lining 62 abuts flange 57a and couples pulley 57 with the rotary spindle 52 to 55.

When coupling means 61 is moved downward against the action of springs 60 in the direction of the arrow C, pulley 57 is disconnected from support 53 and can turn relative to the same and to spindle shaft 52.

The annular brake means 11' surrounds the bearing housing 1', and is composed of an annular magnetizable member 75 which is constructed as described with reference to the annular magnetizable member 17 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. The ring 63 consists of a magnetizable material, such as iron, and has U-shaped cross section. In the upwardly open groove 64, the winding 65 and a brake lining 66 are arranged. Ring 75 has a circular inner surface to which a ring-shaped sinter bearing 67 is fixedly secured. The inner surface of the bearing ring 67 has small radial play on the cylindrical outer wall of bearing housing I, so that the brake means 11 is movable in axial direction, but cannot turn relative to bearing housing 1 due to the fact that four guide pins 71 project outwardly from flange into radial grooves 68 of brake means 11'. Bearing housing I and flange 70 fonn a support on which the annular brake means II is mounted for axial movement only.

The annular bottom face 72 of the circular wall 73 of support 53 is spaced a small distance from the annular top face of the sinter bearing ring 67, at best seen in FIG. 4, and forms a bearing surface against which the sinter bearing ring 67 abuts when brake means 11 is moved upward to a position in which the brake lining 66 is still spaced from the brake surface 73 of the magnetizable coupling flange 74a.

When the electromagnet 75, 65 is energized and produces a magnetic flux flowing through the magnetizable coupling flange 74a, brake means 11' is pulled by the magnetic force upward until sinter bearing ring 67 abuts the annular stop surface 72. The annular pole faces of member 63 are still separated by a small air gap from the bottom face 73 of the magnetizable coupling flange 74a, and the gap may be, for example, 0.2 mm.

A strong magnetic force now acts on coupling member 74, 74a and pulls the same together with coupling lining 62 downward against the action of spring 60 to a position in which bottom face 73 of coupling member 74 abuts the top face and the brake lining 66 of brake means 11', while coupling lining 62 separates from the coupling flange 57a of pulley 57 so that the same can freely rotate about the spindle 52 to 55, permitting the rope or belt to move without sliding on pulley 57. Since coupling member 74 abuts brake means 11 which is prevented from rotation by pins 71, coupling member 74 with carrier flange 58 and spindle 52 to 55 are braked to a stop. The brake surface 73 is pressed with great force by the energized electromagnetic means 75, 65 against the brake lining 66 so that the spindle comes soon to a stop.

When the winding 65 of the electromagnetic means 75 is deenergized, brake means 11' drops to the lower inoperative position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 due to the action of the force of gravity. Since the magnetizable flange 74a of coupling member 74 is no longer attracted, the springs 60 pull coupling member 74 with coupling lining 62 upward until coupling lining 62 abuts flange 75a so that the pulley 57 is again coupled with spindle 52 to 53.

In accordance with the invention, the braking surface 73 of coupling member 74 is slightly higher than the annular stop face 72, but the vertical distance between the two surfaces is very small, and may be 0.2 mm. If this distance is too great or too small, coupling means 61 may not be disengaged upon energization of the electromagnetic means 75, 65. If the distance is too great, the magnetizable flange 74a of coupling member 74 may not be attracted with sufi'tcient force to overcome the resistance of spring 60, and if the distance is too small, the downward movement of coupling member 74 may be insufficient to separate the coupling lining from flange 57a of the pulley so that the pulley would remain coupled with the spindle while the same is being braked.

In order to maintain a constant distance between surfaces 72 and 73 the sinter bearing ring 67 is designed and constructed to be worn to the same degree as the brake lining 66 and the top pole faces of the magnetizable ring 63 so that the respective gaps always maintain the same width, to which they were once accurately adjusted.

Since the weight of the brake means 11' is much less than the spring force exerted by springs 60 on the coupling member 61, the distance between the brake surface 73' and the brake lining 66 is not critical, since the brake means 11' is pulled upward to the position abutting stop surface 72 even if the annular pole faces on top of the magnetizable ring 63 are spaced slightly too far from bottom surface 73 of the magnetizable coupling flange 74a.

The combined stop and coupling mechanism according to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 has substantial advantages over prior art constructions. It is not necessary to very accurately adjust the airgap between the magnetizable ring 63 and the magnetizable coupling flange 73, which serves as an armature. This distance is not critical, and therefore the gap need not be readjusted after use. The width of this airgap can be substantially greater than in known electromagnetic brake arrangements, so that there is no danger of an accidental contact of coupling flange 74a with the top face of brake means 11 when the spindle is subjected to unavoidable oscillations during rotation. Furthermore, the bearing of spindle shaft 52 in bearing housing 1' is'hardly more stressed during braking of the spindle and disengagement of coupling means 61 than during normal rotation of the driven spindle.

Due to the movability and play of the brake means 11', brake lining 66 and brake surface 73 of coupling member 74 align each other to obtain full surface contact, so that no oscillations of the spindle are caused by the brake forces.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 has the same advantages. In FIGS. 5 and 6, parts performing the same functions as in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, are designated by like reference numerals.

The annular brake means 11", which includes an annular magnetizable member 75, a winding 65, and a brake lining 66, is mounted on the bearing housing, not shown, in which shaft 52 of the spindle is supported for rotation about the vertical axis. Rotation of brake means 11" is prevented by a pin and guideway construction as described with reference to FIG. 3, so that brake means 11" is movable in axial direction between a lower inoperative position and a higher position. The cylindrical support 53, which is secured to spindle shaft 52, has a magnetizable flange 76 consisting of iron and constituting an armature for the electromagnetic means 75, 65. The bottom face of the magnetizable flange 76 is located opposite brake lining 66, and forms a brake surface engaged by brake lining 66 in the higher braking position of brake means 11". n

An annular coupling means 77, which has a trapezoidal cross section, which consists of a flexible coupling material, is disposed in the interior of the pulley 57 which is mounted on support 53' by hearing means 56.

The annular coupling means 77 has at least three recesses into which corresponding three springs 78 project. Springs 78 urge the annular coupling means 77 to engage the conical abutment face 79 in the interior of pulley 57. Coupling means 77 is mounted on a cylindrical outer surface of support 53' for axial movement, but cannot turn relative to support 53' since three bolts 81, circumferentially spaced 120 from each other, are located in bores of coupling flange 76 of support 53, and in aligned bores in the annular coupling means 77. The bottom faces of bolts 81 are plane and disposed spaced a small distance from the brake lining 66. When the electromagnetic means 75 is energized, the magnetic flux flowing through the magnetizable flange portion 76 lifts brake means 11" to a higher brake position in which brake lining 66 abuts the brake surface 73' at the bottom of flange 76 of support 53' so that the spindle is stopped.

At the same time, the top surface of brake means 11' and brake lining 66 engages the bottom faces of bolts 81 so that the same push coupling means 77 upward to a disengaged position out of contact with the coupling face 79 of pulley 57 so that the coupling between pulley 57 and the spindle is disengaged before lining 66 abuts brake surface 73' whereby a braking of pulley 57 is prevented.

When winding 65 of electromagnetic means 75 is again deenergized, brake means 11" drops down to its normal inoperative position in which the brake lining 66 is spaced from the brake surface 73 of flange 76. In this position, bolts 81 of coupling means 77 are released by the brake means 11, and springs 78 push coupling means downward to the normal position abutting coupling surface 79 of pulley 57 so that the same is coupled with the spindle and rotates the same.

The width of the gap between the top pole faces of the electromagnetic means 75 and the magnetizable flange 76 is not critical, so that variations of the gap due to the wear of the parts are immaterial and require no readjustment.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a brake means 11" having an electromagnetic means 75 is mounted for axial movement on four axially projecting guide pins secured to the flange 70 of thebearing housing 1' so that brake means 11 can move in axial direction between a lower inoperative position and a higher braking position, but cannot turn relative to the support 6, 70, 1.

A flange member 76' is secured by screws 76a to the lower end of support 53" which is secured to spindle 52. Flange member 76 has an inner ring portion 92 and an outer ring portion 91 consisting of a magnetizable material, and connected by an intermediate ring portion 93 consisting of a nonmagnetizable material, for example a synthetic plastic material. A coupling means 94 is mounted on support 53 for axial movement and includes an annular coupling member 95 and a coupling lining 62 secured to each other. Coupling means 94 is fixedly secured to three bolts 76 which are spaced from each other 120 in circumferential direction. Bolts 96 are guided in bores 97 of the intermediate nonmagnetizable ring 93 for movement in axial direction. Springs 99 are located in pot shaped recesses 98 of the intermediate rings 93 and abut coupling member 95 to urge coupling means 94 into coupling engagement with the bottom face of the lower flange of pulley When winding 65 is energized, the magnetic flux of electromagnetic means 75 flows through the inner and outer magnetizable rings 91 and 92 and through the magnetizable coupling member 95 so that magnetizable coupling member 95 forms the yoke, and rings 91 and 92 form the legs of an armature for the electromagnetic means 75.

When electromagnetic means 75 is energized, brake means 11" is lifted upward moving in axial direction until its top face abuts the bottom face of flange 76 and brakes the same together with support 53" and the spindle shaft 52 to a stop. Since the magnetic flux continues to flow through rings 91 and 92 and the magnetizable coupling member 95, the same is attracted together with coupling lining 62 to move downward to a position abutting the top face of flange 76 so that coupling lining 62 separates from the coupling face at the lower end of pulley 57 and coupling means 94 is disengaged. The disengaged coupling means 94 is also braked to a stop, but is separated from pulley 57 which can be driven by a rope or belt without influencing the stopped spindle.

When electromagnetic means 75 is again deenergized, annular brake means 11" dropsto its inoperative position, and springs 99 push coupling means 94 to the engaged position coupling pulley 57 with the spindle.

The width of the gap between electromagnetic means 75 and armature rings 91 and 92 is not critical, and can be selected comparatively great without requiring any readjustment due to wear. On the other hand, the airgap between flange 76' and coupling member 95 must be comparatively small, since otherwise the coupling means 94 is not disengaged from pulley 57. The width of this second gap does not change, since the coupling lining 62 is practically not worn.

The embodiments described with reference to FIGS. to 7 have the additional advantage that the high brake torque does not act on the coupling means, but on a braking surface of support or carrier 53" which is part of the spindle. Further, no accurate tolerances are required, and there is no danger of rust development on cooperating surfaces.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of stop mechanisms for rotary textile spindles differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a stop mechanism for a rotary textile spindle including an electromagnetic brake means raised, when energized, to a braking position for stopping the spindle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Stop mechanism for a rotary textile spindle, comprising, in combination, a support; a rotatable textile spindle means mounted on said support and having a magnetizable portion; brake means including electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic flux through said magnetizable portion; and mounting means nonrotatably mounting said brake means on said support for movement toward and away from said spindle means between a normal inoperative position, and a braking position abutting said spindle means so that when said electromagnetic means is energized, said brake means is magnetically attracted toward said spindle means and moves into engagement with the same in said braking position for braking and stopping rotation of said spindle means, and so that said brake means returns to said inoperative position when said electromagnetic means is deenergized.

2. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brake means is mounted on said mounting means of said support for substantially vertical movement between said inoperative and braking positions; and wherein said inoperative position is lower than said braking position so that said brake means is raised to said braking position, and tends to drop by the action of gravity to said inoperative position.

3. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support and said spindle means have a common axis; wherein said mounting means mount said brake means for axial movement between said inoperative and brake positions; and wherein said electromagnetic means and said magnetizable portion of said spindle means are disposed so that said magnetic flux produces axial forces acting on said brake means for moving the same to said braking position.

4. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said common axis is vertical; wherein said magnetizable portion is located above said electromagnetic means registering with the same in axial direction whereby said brake means is vertically raised from said inoperative position to said braking position when said electromagnetic means is energized.

5. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic means includes an annular magnetizable member surrounding said support and guided on the same for axial movement, and a winding mounted on said annular magnetizable member; and wherein said magnetizable portion of said spindle means is an annular magnetizable flange located opposite and above said annular magnetizable member.

6. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein the top face of said annular magnetizable member is formed with an annular groove in which said winding is located so that said annular magnetizable member has concentric inner and outer annular top face portions having opposite magnetic polarity whereby said magnetic flux flows out of one top face portion, through said annular magnetizable flange, and into the other top face portion so that said magnetizable flange is the armature of said electromagnetic means.

7. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said brake means includes an annular nonmagnetizable brake lining at least partly covering said annular top face portions projecting from the same in an axial and upward direction, and closing said annular groove.

8. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spindle means includes a rotary spindle, and a pulley integral with said spindle and having an annular flange consisting of a magnetizable material and forming said magnetizable portion; and wherein said electromagnetic means is annular and located opposite said flange so that the same forms the armature of said electromagnetic means.

9. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brake means is a single annular means surrounding said support and includes a single electromagnetic means composed of an annular magnetizable member, and an annular winding, said annular magnetizable member having means for guiding said single annular means along said support and connecting said single annular means with said support so that said single annular means is nonrotatable relative to said fixed support.

10. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spindle means include a spindle mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, a driven pulley mounted on said spindle for rotation about said axis, and coupling means having an engaged position for coupling said pulley with said spindle so that the latter is rotated, and a disengaged position; and wherein said brake means is operatively connected with said coupling means for causing movement of the same to said disengaged and engaged positions, respectively, when said brake means moves between said braking and inoperative positions, respectively, whereby said lriven pulley continues rotation when said spindle is stopped by said brake means upon energization of said electromagnetic means.

11. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim wherein said spindle means includes biassing means acting on said coupling means for urging the same to said engaged position thereof; and wherein said brake means moves said coupling means to said disengaged position thereof when said electromagnetic means is energized and said brake means moves to said braking positions whereas upon deenergization of said electromagnetic means and return of said brake means to said inoperative position, said biassing means move said coupling means to said engaged position.

12. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said magnetizable portion includes an at least partly magnetizable flange of said spindle; wherein said brake means engages said flange in said braking position, and is located on one side of the same; and wherein said coupling means is located on the other side of said flange.

13. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said coupling means includes a coupling member urged by said biassing means to a coupling position abutting said pulley and said spindle, and operating means engaged by said brake means in said braking position and connected with said coupling member for moving the same to said disengaged position, and released by said brake means in said inoperative position so that said biassing means moves said coupling means to said coupling position.

14. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 13 wherein said flange has bores therethrough; wherein said operating means include bolts located in said bores and having first ends engaged by said brake means in said braking position and second ends transmitting the motion of said brake means toward said braking position to said coupling member for moving the same to said disengaged position.

15. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said spindle includes a fixed flange member composed of inner and outer magnetizable rings and of an intermediate nonmagnetizable ring; wherein said brake means is located on one side of said flange member; wherein said coupling means includes a magnetizable coupling member located on the other side of said flange member and forming with said inner and outer magnetizable rings an armature for said electromagnetic means of said brake means, said coupling member having a coupling position engaging said pulley; wherein said brake means in said braking position abuts said flange for braking said spindle to a stop; and wherein the magnetic flux of said electromagnetic means flows in said braking position through said magnetizable coupling member for moving the same away from said pulley and from said coupling position to a disengaged position.

16. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said magnetizable portion of said spindle means is said coupling means; wherein said magnetizable coupling means is connected for rotation with said spindle and movable in axial direction of the same between a disengaged position and a coupling position engaging said pulley; wherein said electromagnetic means of said brake means produces, when energized, a magnetic flux flowing through said magnetizable coupling means so that said brake means is moved toward said coupling means from said inoperative to said braking position spaced by a small gap from said coupling means, including stop means for stopping said brake means in said braking position; and wherein the magnetic flux attracts said coupling means to move toward said brake means in said braking position until abutting the same in said disengaged position whereby said coupling is braked to a stop together with said spindle. 

1. Stop mechanism for a rotary textile spindle, comprising, in combination, a support; a rotatable textile spindle means mounted on said support and having a magnetizable portion; brake means including electromagnetic means for producing a magnetic flux through said magnetizable portion; and mounting means nonrotatably mounting said brake means on said support for movement toward and away from said spindle means between a normal inoperative position, and a braking position abutting said spindle means so that when said electromagnetic means is energized, said brake means is magnetically attracted toward said spindle means and moves into engagement with the same in said braking position for braking and stopping rotation of said spindle means, and so that said brake means returns to said inoperative position when said electromagnetic means is deenergized.
 2. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brake means is mounted on said mounting means of said support for substantially vertical movement between said inoperative and braking positions; and wherein said inoperative position is lower than said braking position so that said brake means is raised to said braking position, and tends to drop by the action of gravity to said inoperative position.
 3. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support and said spindle means have a common axis; wherein said mounting means mount said brake means for axial movement between said inoperative and brake positions; and wherein said electromagnetic means and said magnetizaBle portion of said spindle means are disposed so that said magnetic flux produces axial forces acting on said brake means for moving the same to said braking position.
 4. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said common axis is vertical; wherein said magnetizable portion is located above said electromagnetic means registering with the same in axial direction whereby said brake means is vertically raised from said inoperative position to said braking position when said electromagnetic means is energized.
 5. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic means includes an annular magnetizable member surrounding said support and guided on the same for axial movement, and a winding mounted on said annular magnetizable member; and wherein said magnetizable portion of said spindle means is an annular magnetizable flange located opposite and above said annular magnetizable member.
 6. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein the top face of said annular magnetizable member is formed with an annular groove in which said winding is located so that said annular magnetizable member has concentric inner and outer annular top face portions having opposite magnetic polarity whereby said magnetic flux flows out of one top face portion, through said annular magnetizable flange, and into the other top face portion so that said magnetizable flange is the armature of said electromagnetic means.
 7. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein said brake means includes an annular nonmagnetizable brake lining at least partly covering said annular top face portions projecting from the same in an axial and upward direction, and closing said annular groove.
 8. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spindle means includes a rotary spindle, and a pulley integral with said spindle and having an annular flange consisting of a magnetizable material and forming said magnetizable portion; and wherein said electromagnetic means is annular and located opposite said flange so that the same forms the armature of said electromagnetic means.
 9. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brake means is a single annular means surrounding said support and includes a single electromagnetic means composed of an annular magnetizable member, and an annular winding, said annular magnetizable member having means for guiding said single annular means along said support and connecting said single annular means with said support so that said single annular means is nonrotatable relative to said fixed support.
 10. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spindle means include a spindle mounted on said support for rotation about an axis, a driven pulley mounted on said spindle for rotation about said axis, and coupling means having an engaged position for coupling said pulley with said spindle so that the latter is rotated, and a disengaged position; and wherein said brake means is operatively connected with said coupling means for causing movement of the same to said disengaged and engaged positions, respectively, when said brake means moves between said braking and inoperative positions, respectively, whereby said driven pulley continues rotation when said spindle is stopped by said brake means upon energization of said electromagnetic means.
 11. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said spindle means includes biassing means acting on said coupling means for urging the same to said engaged position thereof; and wherein said brake means moves said coupling means to said disengaged position thereof when said electromagnetic means is energized and said brake means moves to said braking positions whereas upon deenergization of said electromagnetic means and return of said brake means to said inoperative position, said biassing means move said coupling means to said engaged position.
 12. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said magnetizable portion includes an at least partly magnetizable flange of said spindle; Wherein said brake means engages said flange in said braking position, and is located on one side of the same; and wherein said coupling means is located on the other side of said flange.
 13. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said coupling means includes a coupling member urged by said biassing means to a coupling position abutting said pulley and said spindle, and operating means engaged by said brake means in said braking position and connected with said coupling member for moving the same to said disengaged position, and released by said brake means in said inoperative position so that said biassing means moves said coupling means to said coupling position.
 14. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 13 wherein said flange has bores therethrough; wherein said operating means include bolts located in said bores and having first ends engaged by said brake means in said braking position and second ends transmitting the motion of said brake means toward said braking position to said coupling member for moving the same to said disengaged position.
 15. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said spindle includes a fixed flange member composed of inner and outer magnetizable rings and of an intermediate nonmagnetizable ring; wherein said brake means is located on one side of said flange member; wherein said coupling means includes a magnetizable coupling member located on the other side of said flange member and forming with said inner and outer magnetizable rings an armature for said electromagnetic means of said brake means, said coupling member having a coupling position engaging said pulley; wherein said brake means in said braking position abuts said flange for braking said spindle to a stop; and wherein the magnetic flux of said electromagnetic means flows in said braking position through said magnetizable coupling member for moving the same away from said pulley and from said coupling position to a disengaged position.
 16. Stop mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said magnetizable portion of said spindle means is said coupling means; wherein said magnetizable coupling means is connected for rotation with said spindle and movable in axial direction of the same between a disengaged position and a coupling position engaging said pulley; wherein said electromagnetic means of said brake means produces, when energized, a magnetic flux flowing through said magnetizable coupling means so that said brake means is moved toward said coupling means from said inoperative to said braking position spaced by a small gap from said coupling means, including stop means for stopping said brake means in said braking position; and wherein the magnetic flux attracts said coupling means to move toward said brake means in said braking position until abutting the same in said disengaged position whereby said coupling is braked to a stop together with said spindle. 